GunJam

Could be Brian! Doubt it was done by an American or anyone other than the Japanese during WWII would probably be an interesting story. I went ahead an cleaned up the old screw which wasn't as damaged as it looked. I used a drill to turn the screw and a dremmel to grind off the bite marks as the drill spun the screw then i recut the slot for the screw driver tip and made it a bit wider and deeper so a larger tip could be used it looked brand new with the exception of the galled threads which didn't do anything anyhow. I put a light coat of oil and used a large screw driver to reinstall it. It screwed right down and tightened up very well. I figured I would reuse the screw which looked to be original I figured if it was good enough then it was good enough now...I didn't have the heart to chuck it out either. I reinstalled the bamboo peg just as it was before..So this sword is as good as it was when I received it and as far as I can tell it is how the sword smith intended it to be... everything feels ridged and just like the arasaka I'm highly confidant it could easily stop a hoard of street zombies and one would not have to worry about the blade flying out of the handle. Thanks

Thats good to know! What is the purpose of the 2nd peg made from bamboo on this sword. This peg goes through the handle and butts up against the tang... Does this stop the tang from wiggling or vibrating inside the handle, to help ensure a tight fit? Thanks! -Nick

Interesting fact... Should I soak the bamboo first for a day or so? How many of these sword had only one hole in the tang? Wasn't 2 standard? So this isnt the first one you have seen with a single hole? Thanks! -Nick

Okay there is one tradition that I have with all my battle weapons...and that is they should be usable and in working order as it would be on a battlefield and as intended by the creator of that weapon. This is true for my bayonets, my M1 carbine, M1 Garand, the SKSs and even the arasaka. I have never fired the arasaka and it was never fired before but it is battle ready and I even have quality ammunition for it. The arasaka would shoot well if I ever felt like doing so. I never intend to use the gunto but I would like it to be in usable condition. would a single bamboo peg suffice to be consider suitable for battle...this is why a steel screw was used correct? Thanks -Nick

Thank you all very much for your help. I am wondering how to best reassemble this sword. there is no threaded receiver of any kind in the handle. The screw I removed did not technically "Thread" into anything however it did back its self out from the tang when twisted. The screw went through the handle and fit snug into the hole in the tang and then the tip sat in a small pocket that was hollowed out on the other side of the handle it did not go clean though the handle it stopped just short on the other side. The bamboo peg did nothing... I think im going to try to find a brass screw that just touches the inside of the hole in the tang and some what force it in like the original any other suggestions?

Hey thanks for your help Must have been made on a Friday after lunch. I dont really see much resemblance to either Yoshinaga or Kane. I knew a guy who was an exchange student from Japan do you guys think a native speaker would be able to identify that any better? What are the odds that this sword was issued to someone? How were most of these acquired found in shipping crates? Thanks again -Nick

Hello Thank you for the links with the date information. I went to try to find more information about Yoshinaga but had several different results. Is there a first name so that I may more precisely search about this individual... any useful links about him would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank You -Nick

Yeah I wasnt sure if that one was going to work...so I found a suitable lighting source set my stops manual, shutter to 1/800 and manual focus I got you this beauty...(you might have to hit refresh if the same photo loads) http://www.3rflying.com/sword4.jpg Any idea who made this sword now? Thanks -Nick

So now what??? I got the handle off and there are indeed writings on the tang....But 1) there is only one hole drilled in the tang and that's where the screw went through. 2) The wooden peg just went through the handle and butted up against the tang there is obviously no hole for it to secure the tang to the handle. 3) there is some red marking on the end of the tang farthest from the blade. Is this a last ditch gunto? Would make sense as it would go with the last ditch arasaka that accompanied it for so many years. Of course what does the writing say? They are on both sides of the tang but are different...so I guess one side says something different than the other. Thanks -Nick http://www.3rflying.com/sword4.jpg http://www.3rflying.com/sword5.jpg

I have plenty of that and I did just that...This one is stubborn that's for sure working around the laces makes it much tougher as well... I just have to secure a suitable set of visegrips now

Okay thanks for the info I think maybe some needle nose visegrips will help it unscrew.

There does not appear to be anything opposite of the screw under the lace it simply appears to be the white handle material...Oddly enough the same appears to be true for the wooden pin I dont think its possible to push the wooden pin out from the other side because there is no hole

I guess I have to ask what would happen if the shank of the screw were to break just below the head? will I be able to remove the blade or am in going to be in big trouble? Thanks -Nick

Yes I think you are right about it being a screw. these screws remove with a standard left hand twist correct? You can see the screw in the 2nd photo it uses a flat blade type screw driver. This screw however seems to be rather stubborn probably due to some oxidation any tips for easing its removal? Thanks -Nick

The lace on the handle is covering the exits for the pegs. how does one move the lace to allow the peg to be drifted out? Thanks -Nick